Recent Ban on Apps Doesn’t Stop App Growth

A February 22 article in the New York Times Technology section went into great detail about the latest controversy to hit the App store. Apple recently decided to place a ban on a certain type of applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. More specifically, Apple has effectively banned applications that portray sexually explicit or even sexually suggestive images.

Most of the banned applications would probably not reach the level of pornographic, but they would likely reach the level of inappropriate for children. And by banning this material, Apple has taken a great stride to further establish its company as one with values and an interest in providing content that is appropriate for people of all ages.

This move came after a host of complaints from parents and educators that children were accessing applications that were simply inappropriate for them. After weighing the costs associated with placing the ban, it is evident that Apple decided to side with the concerned consumer base instead of application developers. Apple displayed its true colors in this showing of loyalty that in many ways paralleled the loyalty that consumers have shown to Apple for years.

Under most scenarios, banning developers from producing applications would be a difficult move for a corporation to do. However, Apple has full control over which applications are made available for iPhones and iPod Touches. At the present time, the only place that consumers can purchase applications is at Apple’s App Store. And by refusing to sell certain applications, Apple effectively eliminates the public’s access to them. So by removing access to the point of purchase from developers, Apple has cut off the flow of applications deemed inappropriate to the public.

This move came at a time when developers were excited about increased sales on the horizon. The Wi-Fi version of the iPad is scheduled for release in March, and the 3G version of the iPad is scheduled for release in April. Apple designed the iPad with a similar platform to the iPhone and iPod Touch so that applications made for these devices are compatible with the iPad. In fact, many speculators predict that a substantial subset of prospective iPad consumers will purchase the iPad with the express and sole intention of using it for applications.

So while banning sexually charged applications will clearly disappoint a certain subset of application developers, it shows Apple’s commitment to the larger portion of its consumer base. Apple has been a vocal supporter of education policy for years, and it has hopes that educators will use the iPad to revolutionize the way classrooms are run. With instant access to the Web and full typing capacities, the iPad could very well become an instrumental tool to students. And by showing its belief that technology can serve a higher purpose, Apple is more likely to see its products realize their full potential in classrooms and homes around the globe.